Hourglass

Folk This
It All Comes Round Again
John Tams
The Reckoning
Muckram Wakes
A Map Of Derbyshire
The Red Lion
A Bit Of A Song And Dance
New Victory Band
One More Dance And Then
Kate Rusby
Hourglass
Salisbury Folk
From The Penguin Book Of English Folk Songs
The Old Hat Concert Party
Sunday 13th May 1969
Seth Lakeman
Kitty Jay
Kitty Jay Lyrics
Freedom Fields
Freedom Fields Lyrics
The White Hare
The New St. George
The Hard Times Of Old England
Prince Heathen
Frost And Fire
Bright Phoebus
History and Companion
Morning Way
Spindle
Polly On The Shore
Western Approaches
Damien Barber and The Demon Barbers
The North Star Grassman and the Ravens
Cropredy's Like That
The Garden of Jane Delawney
Nic Jones
Penguin Eggs
The Noah's Ark Trap
Bandoggs
Bandoggs: The Record
Shirley Collins
Anthems In Eden
Shelagh McDonald
Stargazer
Music From The Unbroken Circle
Gryphon
Glastonbury Carol
Mr Fox
Mr. Fox : The Album
Tiny Tin Lady
The Sound of Requiem
martha tilston
ropeswing
Moseley Folk Festival 2006
Moseley Folk Festival 2006: The Folks
Witness
ROOTS
Countrylife
Countrylife II
The Falmouth Packet / Haul Away Joe
The Setting / Mary From Dungloe
From Clare To Here
A Gift From A Flower To A Garden
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Coope, Boyes & Simpson
Christmas Truce / Kerstbestand 1914
Passchendaele Suite
A Garland of Carols
Fire and Sleet and Candlelight
Anne Briggs
Anne Briggs : Sing A Song For You
Oak
Welcome to Our Fair Plus
Make it Folky!
A Place Called England
Ragged Heroes
Dancing at Whitsun
The Lark In The Morning
Thomas The Rhymer
Gaudete
Carthy and Swarbrick
What Time Is It Eccles?

Hourglass 1997
Pure Records PRCD02 1997

The album begins with an English ballad of dragons and knights, "Sir Eglamore," set to music composed by Kate Rusby. The tune is light and airy and sets a good pace for the music to follow.The traditional "As I Roved Out" is an Irish song about sundered lovers, and it slows things down a bit. Another beautifully sung tale of star-crossed love is "Drowned Lovers," which (as you can surmise from the title) has an unhappy conclusion. "I am Stretched on Your Grave," is an ancient Irish poem, has received excellent treatments. Rusby's versionis initially sung a cappella except for Donald Hay's stark percussion. Otherl tracks, all of which match the high standards set by Rusby elsewhere on the album, include "Jolly Ploughboys," "Stananivy/Jack & Jill" (combining traditional elements with original melodies by Rusby and McCusker, and lyrics by Rusby), and the sway-inducing McCusker/John Miller song, "Radio Sweethearts." The album ends with the sea shanty "Bold Riley," a lovely song of parting which benefits from harmony vocals in the chorus by Battlefield Band then singer, Davy Steele. Alan Reid, also from the Battlefield Band, adds harmony vocals to another melancholy song about lovers parted, "Annan Waters."

Most of the tunes on on this incredible album are traditionals drawn from the rich musical history of the British Isles, Rusby, though, has added her own touches as well. Besides her own musical compositions for "Sir Eglamore" and "I am Stretched on Your Grave," she has contributed two originals, "A Rose in April" (a sad, sweet song on the theme, again, of parted lovers) and "Old Man Time" (an introspective song about the time which seems to slip away more swiftly as Rusby's music career demands more of her attention), and has collaborated on a few others.

1 Sir Eglamore

2 As I Roved Out

3 Jolly Ploughboys

4 Annan Waters

5 Stananivy

6 A Rose in April

7 Radio Sweetheart

8 I am Stretched on your Grave

9 Old Man Time

10 Drowned Lovers

11 Bold Riley

 

Kate Rusby on guitar and piano
Ian Carr on guitar
Andy Cutting on diatonic accordion
Conrad Ivitsky on double bass.
John McCusker (who also produced the album) on fiddles
Michael McGoldrick on flute and whistles
Tony McManus on guitar
Eric Rigler on uillean pipes

 

related internet links

British folk singer and
guitarist. Amongst the
most acclaimed artists
to emerge from the
British Folk Revival,
his sensibility and approach
to the arrangement of
traditional folk songs has
been a major influence on
the folk scene since the
 early 70's, and is composer
of Annan Waters

folk this is
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